Tuesday, April 5, 2011

A Prayer for Tuesday, April 5, 2011

“If You Forgive Others Their Trespasses”

Having been forgiven, we must forgive—and the more we forgive the more forgiveness we are able to receive.

It is how grace works—the more grace we really receive the more grace we will offer and the more grace we offer the more grace we will receive.

Rescue us, O God, from a legalism that causes us to think we can earn your forgiveness by forgiving others, for if we think that way we will spend our lives wondering if the forgiveness we have given is legitimate enough or abundant enough.

But rescue us also, O God, from a shallowness that causes us to think we can receive your free and abundant forgiveness without it causing us, inspiring us, and enabling us to offer our free and abundant forgiveness to others.

Thank you for forgiving us.

Help us to develop hearts that by nature dispense so much forgiveness that they open up room in them to receive more and more forgiveness.

Amen.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”(Matthew 6:14-15)

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